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Super thin onion slices tossed in a seasoned breadcrumb mix and popped in the air fryer until they're crazy crunchy. These beauties deliver that golden, snackable crunch you'd get from deep frying but without all that extra oil and mess. They're light, crispy, and so good for tossing on just about anything or grabbing by the handful when you need a snack.
I first tried making these crunchy onions because I wanted something lighter for our holiday green bean casseroles. Turns out, my family liked them more than the ones you buy. Now I make a batch almost every week and put them on anything from burgers to salads to give dishes way more texture and flavor.
Delicious Ingredients
- Big onion: Go for yellow or white if you want that classic sweet-savory background
- All-purpose flour: This is your first layer so the egg wash really sticks to the onion
- Large egg: Helps glue those breadcrumbs onto your onion rings perfectly
- Panko breadcrumbs: These crunchy flakes are way crispier than regular breadcrumbs, which is exactly what you want here
- Paprika: Brings a slight smokey note and gives your onions that gorgeous color
- Salt and pepper: These basics bring out the onion's natural flavors
- Olive oil spray: Makes the outsides extra crispy and helps things brown up evenly
- Garlic powder: Adds some deep flavor that doesn’t overpower the onions
Simple Steps
- Get Ready to Slice:
- Chop off the ends, peel the onion, and cut it into rings about a quarter inch thick. Gently pull apart each ring so they’re all ready to coat later.
- Make Your Breading Stations:
- Line up three bowls. In one, dump flour and season with salt and pepper. In another, beat an egg with a splash of water. In the last one, mix the panko with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Time to Coat:
- Start by tossing the onion rings in the flour. Then dip them right into the egg wash. Finally, press them into the breadcrumb bowl so they’re totally covered.
- Into the Air Fryer:
- Heat up your air fryer to 375°F. Spray the basket lightly with olive oil. Lay out the coated rings in one layer and don’t let them touch. Cook about 4 or 5 minutes, flip every piece over, then give them another 4 or 5 minutes until they’re super golden and crisp.
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I honestly love piling these crunchy onions on extra creamy mashed potatoes. That contrast is just perfect. My kid swears they’re the best thing to top avocado toast with, and honestly, it’s hard to argue. Adds a killer savory bite.
Great Pairings
Ditch boring salads and finish them off with a big handful of these crispy onions. They’re also a total game changer tucked into sandwiches for awesome crunch.
Fun Flavors
If you like heat, stir some cayenne and dried thyme into your crumbs for a spicy Cajun vibe. Want Italian? Toss in dried basil, oregano, and maybe a pinch of rosemary. You can even try 5-spice and ginger for a cool Asian-inspired flavor.
Keeping Them Fresh
Let any leftovers cool off, then pop them in a sealed container on your counter for three days max. Give them two minutes back in a 350°F air fryer and they’ll crisp right up again.
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Since I learned how easy it is to make crispy onions in the air fryer, I basically quit buying the pre-made kind. You just get way more flavor and better crunch with these.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Is it okay to prep these ahead?
- They're best straight out of the air fryer, but you can bread them a bit earlier and stash them in the fridge till you're ready to cook.
- → What dips go great with these onion rings?
- Try them with ketchup, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, spicy aioli, or some ranch—whatever you like.
- → Do I have to use panko?
- Nope, but panko gets them extra crisp. Swap in regular crumbs or even crushed cornflakes if that's what you've got.
- → How do I keep the breading from sliding off?
- Give the rings a good press after coating and let them sit a few minutes before air frying. That really helps the coating stick.
- → What's the best way to reheat leftovers?
- Just pop them back in the air fryer for 2 or 3 minutes at 350°F. They'll crisp up again just fine.